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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-05-2013CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION Special Meeting Minutes December 5, 2013 CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 5:06 p.m. in Room 1600 of the City Hall Ross Annex I!jI"=Ik10Z101N The following Committee Members were present: Vincent Sarmiento, Michele Martinez, David Benavides Staff present were: David Cavazos, City Manager; Jay Trevino, Planning & Building Agency Executive Director; Karen Haluza, Planning Manager; William Galvez, Interim Exec. Director /Public Works Agency; Taig Higgins, Acting City Engineer; Melanie McCann, Associate Planner; Mark Hoffman, Consultant; and Rosa Barela, PBA Executive Secretary. PUBLIC COMMENTS Sandra Pena noted support for affordable housing for artists and requested special consideration be given to local artists and emphasized the need to work together to apply for grants to fund study programs such as the I.D.E.A. (Innovation, Design, Education and Art) District. Chris Taylor noted he would like to see the continuing discussion of the former Saddleback Inn site in terms of feature, recommending the committee be proactive to see something big and bold at the location. AGENDA ITEMS HOUSING ELEMENT Ms. McCann provided background information on the Housing Element basics which is one of the required elements in the General Plan, discussed the Santa Ana Housing Vision adding "healthy" was added to enhance the importance of health in the policy; discussed the major planning efforts and what was accomplished since the last update; discussed the affordable housing production projects, housing rehabilitation projects and special needs projects; and introduced consultant, Mark Hoffman. Mr. Hoffman provided information on some of the proposals in the draft element adding a huge amount of progress on the number of affordable housing projects; noted staff wanted to confirm they could accommodate changes against state legislation, to integrate the concept of health in all policies, and with the future update of the General Plan zoning ordinance to what extent the land use policies will be for certain areas and wanted to make sure the Housing Element reflects that direction; Discussed Goal 1: Housing & Neighborhoods the new policies of Complete Neighborhoods, Healthy Neighborhoods and Proactive Code Enforcement; the new /revised programs Building Healthy Communities, Building Community Efforts and Property Maintenance Standards (healthy housing); Goal 2: Housing Supply and Diversity the continued and new policies of District Centers and Diverse Housing Types; and the new /revised programs of the Harbor Corridor Specific Plan and the General Plan & Zoning Ordinance Update; the new policies of Housing Design, Affordable Component; the new /revised programs of Building Design, Housing Opportunity Ordinance and Adaptive Reuse; Goal 4: Special Housing Needs new policies of Healthy Homes and Housing Preference; new/ revised programs for Multigenerational Housing and Reducing Second Hand Smoke in Multifamily Housing. Vice Chair Martinez noted the importance of health in all policies as the California Endowment understands there is a buy -in that the city is committed as well adding she hopes the council will continue to work with them, noted with Housing Element the city is making a commitment to the residents and non - profits that have been doing the groundwork for the past four years. Chairman Sarmiento suggested district centers be reviewed every five years and noted he would like to see South Main identified as a new district center. Mr. Trevino noted the 55 corridor is a top candidate as a district center and agreed looking at centers and possibly adding, removing and altering them when updating the General Plan. Mark Hoffman noted the final two new programs to recognize undertaking the General Plan Update. Victor Payan of the United Artists of Santa Ana noted the interest in the special classification of artists for affordable housing adding artists fall within the definition of other classifications and provided information on grants to partner and pursue with the city. Vice Chair Martinez noted there has not been enough special needs housing adding it is imperative to focus on that group and for veterans; and thanked staff for listening to the council and community. Committee member Benavides noted support for affordable housing for artists and families. Chairman Sarmiento noted on Item HE 4.8 Housing Preference that the term `Preference" be changed to possibly "Priority ". Speaker representing America On Track provided information on smoke -free multifamily housing adding they have worked with Advanced Management Company and C &C Development who have voluntarily adopted smoke -free policies for their complexes in Santa Ana and noted support to adopt a smoke -free policy. Committee member Benavides noted he would like to see different options on how to promote and encourage smoke -free multifamily housing adding his concern on an ordinance making it unlawful to smoke on private property. Vice Chair Martinez noted her support of smoke -free multifamily housing policy adding developers and property managers today are supportive of this policy; noted science will speak for itself in what second hand smoke causes and thanked America On Track for their attendance. Ms. Haluza noted the program in the Housing Element does not establish definitively how it will be implemented or that it would, but will be explored further. Development & Transp. Council Committee Minutes 2 December 5, 2013 Chairman Sarmiento noted these are guiding principles to set up framework and create priorities in the elements; encouraged committee members and council to comment to staff on any policy or principal they would like to see prior to it proceeding to Council, and noted the importance of the adaptive reuse opportunities. 2. CIRCULATION ELEMENT Ms. McCann provided information on the Circulation Element noting it is a blueprint for transportation within the city with key components that include the evolution of the Master Plan of Streets and Highways, update the Bikeways Plan and create a Pedestrian Plan; discussed the Complete Street, Potential Pedestrian Opportunities with pedestrian opportunity zones and multi -use paths, and the Existing and Potential Bikeway Master Plan, provided bikeway examples, options and alternatives that the Council will make determination on. Mr. Higgins provided information on the existing, modifications to and proposed Master Plan of Streets and Highways; and provided examples of potential changes on a major arterial. Chairman Sarmiento noted that South Main Street between First Street and Warner Avenue is an important corridor for historic and commerce purposes and the need to slow down and downgrade this arterial. Vice Chair Martinez noted the possibility of using medians as bike lanes and use as multimodal, and requested staff look at the models of San Francisco and Portland who have implemented this program; noted as part of Complete Street and calming down traffic to possibly create diagonal parking so people can stop and shop at Harbor Boulevard, Fifth Street and South Main Street; requested the number of miles in the Bike Paths Class I and Bike Lanes Class II; and noted OCTA is doing bikeway plans in various districts and to work with neighboring cities for connectivity. Ms. McCann provided information on the next steps with draft Circulation Element out in early 2014 then to OCTA for their approval on some of the reclassifications, the preparation of the CEQA documentation and back to the Council in the summer for adoption. COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS — None Jay Trevino noted a special meeting will be scheduled to discuss the YMCA and Third & Broadway parking structure, and parking issues in the downtown and city -wide. ADJOURNMENT — 6:49 P.M. Jay M. Trevino Executive Director Planning & Building Agency ftCouncll Comm \Cevel & Transp cc \12 -OS 13 oevel & Transp CC Mlnutos- Speclal Development & Transp. Council Committee Minutes 3 December 5, 2013